NY State Senate Bill 2025-S7168

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
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Delivered to Governor
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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Apr 03, 2025	referred to education

2025-S7168 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A2184
Current Committee:: Senate Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §819, amd §2590-h, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2017-2018: S5454
2019-2020: S1135, A8756
2021-2022: S582, S8089, A10358
2023-2024: S5078, A2144

2025-S7168 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to establishing the commission on African American history and achievement to develop and recommend school curriculum that incorporates the contributions and achievements made by African Americans.

2025-S7168 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7168

SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing the
commission on African American history and achievement

 
PURPOSE:

The commission shall develop and recommend curriculum that incorporates
the achievements made by African Americans as part of New York's educa-
tion curriculum including the woman's abolitionist movement, the Harlem
Renaissance, the Buffalo antislavery movement, the suffrage of African
American Long Islanders.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the education law is amended by establishing a commission
on African American History and Achievement, the commission shall
consist of 13 members including The Commissioner of Education, the Chan-
cellors of NYC Department of Education, Chancellor of the State Univer-

sity of New York as well as the Chancellor of the Board of Regents. The
Governor, Speaker of the Assembly and Temporary President of the Senate
shall appoint three members each. The member shall receive reimbursement
for expenses but no salary. The members shall serve 3-year terms on the
commission. The State Education department shall provide technical
assistance. The commission shall submit annual reports on its findings
beginning August 1.2024.  Provides that students in NYC shall visit
locations associated with African American History

 
JUSTIFICATION:

African-American history just as any other history of a group of people
in a country or a specific race is important and should go beyond a day,
or a month commemoration. A child in the United Sates both African-Amer-
ican and non- African-American should not have to wait until college
before they learn about the history of African-American people, who
happen to be a profound figure in the country. Moreover, not every child
in the US goes to college and even if they do, not every one of them
studies history or sociology where they will get the chance to learn
something about African-American history, which is an important part of
their country hence, the importance of every child from kindergarten to
twelve-grade learning about African-American history.

This idea of amending the education law instructing in African-American
history is necessary, and would help in the sense that; whatever young
people are exposed to from children goes a long way in shaping their
mind, and help them in making concrete decisions as they grow.  Teaching
African-American history in K-12 will help expand young peoples' know-
ledge on contributions African-American people made and still make in
getting this country to where it is now. I believe the African-American
community has come very far from no voice at all, to making huge
contributions, and overcoming many setbacks, which is worth teaching. It
is not enough, to only talk of these contributions in just a month and
more likely forget it afterwards. Children needs to learn and appreciate
these contributions and achievements just as they learn'and appreciate
American history or global history. One may wonder, if African-American
people in United States are part of the US, then isn't American history
enough to teach children about African-American history? The US history
course taught in high schools does not delve as much into the history of
African-American people and it may not even be possible to infuse the
majority if not all African-American history with American history.

Thus, the need to have a component of African-American history in the
course instruction for K-12 children. Again, teaching these children
African-American history and culture in school will provide a good
opportunity in exploring the idea of race as social and political
construction. Many students see race as immutable, a fixed concept that
has rarely changed overtime. Many young people assume that because white
historically meant good and African-American is bad/evil, Europeans or
white people have always been biased against those of African descend
and racism is just an extension of ancient practices. Teaching young
people at an early age about the actual history of African-American
people can help reduce the many misconceptions surrounding African-Amer-
ican and white people and race, and can reduce the stereotypes young
people grow up adhering to. For instance, young people needs to know
that racial classification as a scientific concept is an 18th -century
invention and not just an ancient everlasting practice which nothing can
be done in regards to it.

Moreover, teaching school children on the history of African-American
people will help many of New York children appreciate African-American
historical events in New York. For instance, the creation of the center
for Abolitionists. By the year 1835, about 600 abolitionists gathered at
the Bleecker street Baptist church in Utica for the inaugural meeting of
the NYS Anti-Slavery Society. This meeting lead to the creation of the
Smithfield community center in Peterboro, which now houses the National
Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum.

Also, the hands-on-history "King Manor" in Jamaica, Queens is a museum
dedicated to preserve home and legacy of Rufus King. Having children
learn African-American history will help recall this unspoken opponent
of slavery. Another event worth knowing, which will be a part of what
will be taught should African-American history be incorporated in
schools is the 1800s meeting the people lead by African American newspa-
per editor and a major voice in abolition, Fredrick Douglass a resident
of Rochester. At the flight of freedom exhibit in Rochester Museum and
science center, interactive exhibits reveal his story along with those
of freedom seeking and former enslaved Africans including Austin
Steward, Harriet Jacobs and revered Thomas James.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2017-18: S.5454-B/A.7192-A

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Minimal

 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2025-S7168 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7168
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               April 3, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  CLEARE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education  law,  in  relation  to  establishing  the
   commission on African American history and achievement
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 819 to
 read as follows:
   § 819. AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND ACHIEVEMENT. 1.  THE COMMISSION ON
 AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND ACHIEVEMENT; ESTABLISHED. (A)  THE  COMMIS-
 SION  ON  AFRICAN  AMERICAN HISTORY AND ACHIEVEMENT, REFERRED TO IN THIS
 SECTION AS THE  COMMISSION,  IS  HEREBY  CREATED  AND  ESTABLISHED.  THE
 COMMISSION  SHALL CONSIST OF THIRTEEN MEMBERS, INCLUDING THE COMMISSION-
 ER, OR THEIR DESIGNEE, THE CHANCELLOR OF NEW YORK CITY SCHOOLS, OR THEIR
 DESIGNEE, THE CHANCELLOR OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK,  OR  THEIR
 DESIGNEE, AND THE CHANCELLOR OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS, OR THEIR DESIGNEE,
 THREE  MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, THREE MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE
 TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, AND THREE MEMBERS  APPOINTED  BY  THE
 SPEAKER  OF  THE  ASSEMBLY.   APPOINTED MEMBERS SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE
 LIMITED TO TEACHERS, INCLUDING KINDERGARTEN  THROUGH  TWELVE  EDUCATORS,
 HISTORIANS,  AND  THOSE  WITH  A BACKGROUND IN AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY,
 ARTS, OR CULTURE.
   (B) EACH MEMBER SHALL SERVE FOR A TERM OF THREE  YEARS  AND  SHALL  BE
 ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT. A VACANCY OCCURRING OTHER THAN BY EXPIRATION
 OF  TERM  SHALL BE FILLED IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT
 FOR THE UNEXPIRED TERM.
   (C) THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION SHALL SERVE WITHOUT COMPENSATION BUT
 SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL NECESSARY  EXPENSES  INCURRED
 IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES.
   (D)  THE COMMISSIONER, OR THEIR DESIGNEE, SHALL SERVE AS THE CHAIR AND
 THE CHANCELLOR OF NEW YORK CITY SCHOOLS, OR THEIR DESIGNEE, SHALL  SERVE
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD01959-01-5

 S. 7168                             2
 
 AS  THE  VICE-CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION. THE PRESENCE OF A MAJORITY OF THE
 AUTHORIZED MEMBERSHIP OF  THE  COMMISSION  SHALL  BE  REQUIRED  FOR  THE
 CONDUCT OF OFFICIAL BUSINESS.
   (E)  THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND DATA TO THE
 COMMISSION AS MAY BE NECESSARY FOR  THE  COMMISSION  TO  CARRY  OUT  ITS
 RESPONSIBILITIES PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
   2.  DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMMISSION.  (A) THE COMMISSION
 SHALL BE TASKED WITH DEVELOPING AND RECOMMENDING CURRICULUM THAT  INCOR-
 PORATES  THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS MADE BY AFRICAN AMERICANS AS
 PART OF NEW YORK'S EDUCATION CURRICULUM, INCLUDING BUT  NOT  LIMITED  TO
 THE  WOMEN'S  ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT, THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE, THE BUFFALO
 ANTI-SLAVERY MOVEMENT, AND THE SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT  FOR  AFRICAN  AMERICAN
 LONG  ISLANDERS.  IN FURTHERANCE OF THIS GOAL, THE COMMISSION SHALL HAVE
 THE FOLLOWING DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
   (I) TO SURVEY AND REVIEW CURRENT ELEMENTARY  AND  SECONDARY  EDUCATION
 CURRICULUM  AS  IT  RELATES TO CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF AFRICAN
 AMERICANS THROUGHOUT AMERICAN AND STATE HISTORY;
   (II) TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS ON ADDITIONAL CURRICULUM AND  INSTRUC-
 TION  FOR  GRADES  KINDERGARTEN  THROUGH  TWELVE  THAT  INCORPORATE  THE
 CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS  MADE  BY  AFRICAN  AMERICANS  THROUGHOUT
 AMERICAN AND NEW YORK STATE HISTORY; AND
   (III)  PREPARE  REPORTS FOR THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE REGARDING ITS
 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON  CURRENT  CURRICULUM  AND  INCORPORATING
 ADDITIONAL  INSTRUCTION  ON  THE  CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS MADE BY
 AFRICAN AMERICANS THROUGHOUT AMERICAN AND NEW YORK STATE HISTORY.
   (B) THE COMMISSION SHALL SUBMIT AN  ANNUAL  REPORT,  BEGINNING  AUGUST
 FIRST,  TWO  THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX, TO THE GOVERNOR, THE COMMISSIONER, THE
 TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, THE  SPEAKER  OF  THE  ASSEMBLY,  THE
 CHAIR  OF  THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, AND THE CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY
 EDUCATION COMMITTEE ON ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
   3. AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND ACHIEVEMENT CURRICULUM OR INSTRUCTION.
 (A) THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONJUNCTION WITH  OTHER  APPROPRIATE  AGENCIES,
 SHALL  ESTABLISH  AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND ACHIEVEMENT CURRICULUM OR
 INSTRUCTION FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS BASED ON  THE  RECOMMENDATIONS  OF  THE
 COMMISSION.  THE CONTENT SHALL BE AGE APPROPRIATE AND SHALL BE DEVELOPED
 ACCORDING TO THE NEEDS AND  ABILITIES  OF  PUPILS  AT  SUCCESSIVE  GRADE
 LEVELS  IN ORDER TO PROVIDE MATERIALS, AND INFORMATION IN AFRICAN AMERI-
 CAN HISTORY AND ACHIEVEMENT. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ANNUALLY REVIEW  THE
 COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND MAKE UPDATES TO CURRICULUM AS APPROPRI-
 ATE.
   (B)  SCHOOLS  MAY  INCLUDE  THE  ABOVE MATERIALS AS A COMPONENT OF ITS
 HISTORY CURRICULUM OR ANY OTHER WAY THE SCHOOL DEEMS APPROPRIATE.
   § 2.  Section 2590-h of the education law is amended by adding  a  new
 subdivision 57 to read as follows:
   57. ENSURE THAT ALL STUDENTS IN THE CITY DISTRICT, THE CHARTER SCHOOLS
 IN  THE  CITY OF NEW YORK AUTHORIZED BY ARTICLE FIFTY-SIX OF THIS TITLE,
 AND THE NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK PROVIDING  INSTRUCTION
 IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH SECTION THIRTY-TWO HUNDRED FOUR OF THIS CHAPTER, AS
 PART OF THE INSTRUCTION IN AWARENESS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN  HISTORY  SINCE
 THE  YEAR  SIXTEEN  HUNDRED  NINETEEN  PURSUANT TO SECTION EIGHT HUNDRED
 NINETEEN OF THIS CHAPTER, SHALL VISIT SITES WHICH  EDUCATE  ABOUT  THESE
 HISTORICAL EVENTS.
   §  3.  This act shall take effect immediately, provided, however, that
 the amendments to section 2590-h of the education law  made  by  section
 two  of  this  act shall not affect the expiration and reversion of such
 section and shall expire and be deemed repealed therewith.

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Senate Bill S7168

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

Actions

2025-S7168 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S7168 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S7168 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S7168 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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Sponsored By

Cordell Cleare

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

Actions

2025-S7168 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S7168 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S7168 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S7168 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments